Stoker mechanism



Aug. `23, 1938. J. B. MacKENzlE STOKER MECHANI SM Original Filed Jan. 23, 1935 NVENTOR. Je/Uh B. Nac Ke/zjba'e BY @ZW/MKM A TOR/ways.

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOKER. MECHANISM Joseph B. MacKenzie,

Erie, Pa., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The Standard Stoker Company, Inc., (1922) poration of Delaware New York, N. Y., a cor- 2, 1937. Divided and this application January 28, 1937, Serial No. 122,724

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to stokers for locomotive boilers and more particularly relates to the fuel conveying system employed in a stoker mechanism.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved conveyor for a stoker mechanism comprising a universal joint between a pair of conduit sections having a hinged portion affording access to the interior of the: conduit sections.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel flexible joint structure for a locomotive stoker conveying mechanism, `such fiexible joint structure being disposed beneath the firing deck; of the locomotive and tender and comprising a conduit portion hinged to a main conduit portion above the universal connection between a pair of conveyor screws operating within the stoker conduits, the arrangement of parts being such that upon swinging the hinged portion away from the main conduit portion, the universal joint between the conveyor screws is exposed and made accessible from above the firing deck.

A still further object of this invention resides `in the provision, in the structure referred to above, of a clamp which forms a part of the flexible joint between a pair of stoker conduits and also functions to maintain the hinged portion of one conduit to the main portion thereof.

These and other objects will become apparent `as the description of this invention is rea-d in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view through the rearward portion of a locomotive and the forward portion of its tender illustrating the invention applied thereto partly in similar section and partly in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the forward end of the stoker of the invention with the iirebox backhead shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged View in elevation of the forward end portion of the movable conduit section provided with the hinged cover at the `universal joint; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on I,the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the spherical seat-like support for the movable conduit section.

Referring to the drawing, the locomotive I is provided with a boiler rebox II, having the grate I2, a backhead I3, and a cab I4 having the deck or floor I5. 'Ihe backhead is provided with the vertically elongated firing opening I8 extending above and below the cab deck I and spaced above the mud ring I9.

Rearward of the locomotive II) the tender is indicated at 2U. It is of ordinary construction having the frame 2I, the fuel bunker 22, and the deck or floor 23 which carries theusual slide plates 24. These slide plates control the flow of the fuel from the fuel bunker into the stoker S which is of novel construction and now will be described.

The stoker S includes a conveyor 25 leading forwardly from the tender 20, and a fuel delivery conveyor 26 which receives fuel from the conveyor 25 and delivers it to a point above the grate I2 for distribution. Comprising the conveyor 25 is the open mouth trough 2l mounted beneath the tender deck 23 to receive fuel from the bunker 22 through a central aperture 29 in the deck 23, the size of this aperture being controlled by the shiftable plates 24. Extending forwardly from the trough 2'I and rigid therewith is a tubular conduit 3| which terminatesv at its forward end beneath the locomotive cab decke I5 and has loosely telescoped over its forward end a sleeve-like conduit 32. At its forward end the latter conduit is provided with a spherical member 33 which is received in the spherical seat 34 of the fuel delivery conduit 35. A clamp 36 retains the spherical member 33 in its seat 34 to form a universal joint connection 3l between the fuel delivery conduit 35 and the sleevelike conduit 32.

At the rear of the trough 2'I and rigid therewith is a gear casing 38 which houses and maintains in an operative relation suitable gearing (not shown) for driving the stoker conveyors. Power is transmitted to such gearing from the motor 39 by flexible shafting 39a. from the under side of the gear casing 38 is a spherical member 40 which rests in a complementary seat 4I of the supporting bracket 42. By this arrangement, the conveyor 25, at the rearward end thereof, is mounted to pivot about a vertical axis and also about a transverse horizontal axis. It will also be observed that the rearward end of the conveyor 25 is restrained against relative fore and aft movement with reference to the tender 20 by reason of the engagement of the spherical member 40 in the seat 4I. Movement of the conveyor 25 about a longitudinally extending axis is prevented by providing the gear casing 38 with laterally projecting flanges 43, one at each side of the spherical Depending f member 40, each ange 43 resting upon a rail 44 formed at each lateral extremity of the bracket 42 and having a convexly curved upper surface. By the` described construction, together with the universal joint connection 31 and the telescopic sleeve-like conduit 32, it will be apparent that the necessary flexibility has been provided for the stoker conduits when the locomotive and tender are rounding curves or passing over switches, frogs and turntables.

The means for conveying fuel through the Stoker includes a conveyor screw 45 having a portion thereof within the trough 21 and extending forwardly therefrom through the tubular conduit 3| to a point adjacent the universal connection 31 between the fuel delivery conduit 35 and the sleeve-like conduit 32. At its forward end, the conveyor screw 45 is provided with a jaw 46 which is connected to the jaw 41 of the fuel delivery screw 48 in the conduit 35 by means of pins 49 and a block 59 to form a universal joint 5I between the conveyor screws 45 and 48. The conveyor screw 45 is driven from its rearward end by the gearing within the gear casing 38 and conveys forwardly -the fuel which falls into the trough 21 from the bunker 22, the fuel being urged against the teeth 52 of a crusher 53 and reduced to a size suitable for efficient firing. The crushed fuel is then conveyed forwardly by the conveyor screw 45 to the delivery conduit 35 where the screw 48 urges the fuel through the upwardly opening mouth 54 of the fuel delivery conduit 35 into the zone of action of the distributor member 55 which projects the fuel to all parts of the iirebed.

Leading forwardly and upwardly from the spherical seat 34, the fuel delivery conduit 35 passes through the lower portion of the elongated firing opening I8 and thence curves upwardly so that its discharge mouth 54 opens upwardly into the firing opening I8.

Rearward of discharge mouth 54 is mounted the distributor member 55 arranged to issue blasts of pressure fluid toward the rebox through the orifices 69. A casing 1I, formed with the conduit 35 extends above the mouth 54 and is provided with inspection openings 12 above the distributor member 55.

Above the casing 'II there is shown a portion of a conventional firedoor which closes the upper portion of the elongated firing opening I3 against outside exposure. The openings at each side of the delivery conduit 35 in the lower portion of this ring opening are closed against rearward exposure by a pair of iianges 16, one extending laterally from each side of the conduit, forming also a means for securing the conduit 35 to the backhead I3 by bolts 11. A further support for the conduit 35 is afforded by providing it with foot pads 18 which are secured by bolts to a bracket 19 carried by the rebox backhead I3 and mud ring I9.

Fuel emerging from the upwardly opening mouth 54 is swept forwardly across a table 86 by the jets of pressure fluid issuing from the distributor member 55. The table 8U is supported by the conduit 35 and extends forwardly therefrom. The table 89 and the forward portion of the conduit 35 are protected from the intense heat within the firebox by the vertical grate 83.

At times it is necessary to disconnect the conveyor screw 45 and the fuel delivery screw 48, as for instance when the pins 49 or block 5D are Worn to an extent that their replacement is essential. This can be readily accomplished by an arrangement of parts which includes a removably hinged upper forward section 56 of the sleevelike conduit 32, which section includes, as an integral part, a portion of the spherical member 33. The section 56 is hinged to the sleeve-like conduit 35 by means of a lug 51 which engages a bolt 58 passed through the spaced ears 59 of the conduit 32. Lateral movement of the section 56 with reference to the conduit 32 is prevented by providing a seat 69 in the edges of the conduit 32 which are contiguous to the edges of the section 56. The edges of the section 56 are received in the seat 6U and its lower portion extends below the horizontal medial plane of the conduit 32 whereby removal of the pins 49 is facilitated. Upward displacement of the section 56, under normal operating conditions, is prevented by the reason of the clamp 36 which is secured to the delivery conduit 35 over the section 56 and by providing this section with a rearwardly extending lug 6I on its upper side which fits beneath the ledge 62 of the conduit 32.

Whenever it is found that the conveyor screws 45 and 48 must be disconnected for any reason, the mechanic removes the bolts 63 which secure the clamp 36 to the delivery conduit 35 and raises the clamp through the opening 64 in the cab deck I5. The upper forward section 56 may then be swung rearwardly to a position as shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4 whereby the pins 49 and the block 56 may be removed and replaced if found to be worn.

At times, foreign material such as track spikes or waste in the coal will work between the universal joint jaws 46, 41 and the block 50 so that articulation of the universal joint 5I becomes limited, thereby causing irregular operation of the conveyor screws. By removing the clamp 36 from its position over the hinged section 56, the fireman may swing the latter to a position above the cab deck I5. Upon so doing, the universal joint 5I is exposed and the foreign material removed therefrom in order to relieve the articulating surfaces of this joint. It will be apparent that this may be done from a position within the cab I4, thus enabling the engine crew to make necessary repairs or adjustments without loss of running time.

It will be apparent to those familiar with locomotive stokers that the universal joint structure according to this invention is highly useful in the railroad industry because it renders possible the convenient inspection and repair of the universal joint 5I from a position in the locomotive cab I4 and in a manner which does not require extensive dismantling of major parts of the stoker mechanism.

This application is a division of my co-pending application for patent, Serial No. 3,058, filed January 23, 1935, for improvements in Stoker, now Patent No. 2,072,821, dated March 2, 1937.

I claim:

l. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end 0f one of said conduits, a spherical member formed at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits, said spherical member being received in the spherical seat of the first named conduit, a clamp detachably secured to said first named conduit over said spherical member to form a universal connection between said conduits, a conveyor screw in the first named conduit, a conveyor screw in the second named conduit, and a universal joint connecting said conveyor screws in approximate coincidence with the universal connection between said conduits, a section of said spherical member being hinged to the second named conduit and arranged to be swung away from its operative position upon removal of said clamp.

2. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical member formed at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits, said spherical member being received in the spherical seat of the iirst named conduit, a clamp detachably secured to said first named conduit over said spherical member to form a universal connection between said conduits, a conveyor screw in the rst named conduit, a conveyor screw in the second named conduit, and a universal joint connecting said conveyor screws in approximate Coincidence with the universal connection between said conduits, a section of said spherical member being hinged to the second named conduit and arranged to be swung away from its operative position upon removal of said clamp, a portion of said section extending below the level of the center of said universal joint.

3. In combination, a iioor, a conveying system having a portion thereof beneath said floor, said conveying system including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end oi one of said conduits, a spherical member formed at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits, said spherical member being received in the spherical seat of the i'lrst named conduit, a clamp detachably secured to said first named conduit over said spherical member to form a universal connection between said conduits, such universal connection being arranged with the greater part thereof beneath said licor, a conveyor screw in the rst named conduit, a conveyor screw in the second named conduit, and a universal joint connecting said conveyor screws in approximate coincidence with the universal connection between said conduits, said floor being provided with an aperture over the universal connection between said conduits and through which aperture said clamp may be removed, a section of said spherical member being hinged to a second named conduit and arranged to be swung away from its operative position through the aperture of said floor upon removal of said clamp.

4. In combination, a floor, a conveying system having a portion thereof beneath said floor, said conveying system including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical member formed at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits, said spherical member being received in the spherical seat of the iirst named conduit, a clamp detachably secured to said first named conduit over said spherical member to form a universal connection between said conduits, such universal connection being arranged with the greater part thereof beneath said floor, a conveyor screw in the iirst named conduit, a conveyor screw in` the second named conduit, and a universal joint connecting said conveyor screws in approximate coincidence with the universal connection between said conduits, said floor being provided with an aperture over the universal connection between said conduits and through which aperture said clamp may be removed, a section of said spherical member being hinged to the second named conduit and arranged to be swung away from its operative position through the aperture of said floor upon removal of said clamp, a portion of said section extending below the level of the center of said universal joint.

5. The combination including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical member formed at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits, said spherical member being received in the spherical seat of the rst named conduit, a clamp detachably secured to said iirst named conduit over said spherical member to form a universal connection between said conduits, a conveyor screw in the iirst named conduit, a conveyor screw in the second named conduit, a universal joint connecting said conveyor screws in approximate coincidence with the universal connection between said conduit, said spherical member including a removable section, and means for hinging such removable section to the second named conduit, said clamp cooperating with said means for maintaining said removable section in operative position.

6. In combination, a floor, a conveying system having a portion thereof beneath said oor, said conveying system including a pair of conduits, a spherical seat formed in an end of one of said conduits, a spherical member formed at the adjacent end of the other of said conduits, said spherical member being received in the spherical seat of the rst named conduit, a clamp detachably secured to said i'lrst named conduit over said spherical member to form a universal connection between said conduits, such universal connection being arranged with the greater part thereof beneath said floor, a conveyor screw in the rst named conduit, a conveyor screw in the second named conduit, a universal joint connecting said conveyor screws in approximate coincidence with the universal connection between said conduits, said iioor being provided with an aperture over the universal connection between said conduits and through which aperture said clamp may be removed, said spherical member including a removable section, and means for hinging such removable section to the second named conduit, said clamp cooperating with said means for maintaining said removable section in operative position.

JOSEPH B. MACKENZIE. 

